Practice-clavier.



No. 736,928. v PATENTED AUG. 25, 1 903.

A. G. BERGMAN.

PRACTICE OLAVIBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY HI -190i N0 MODEL.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Fatented August 25, 1903.

PRACTlCE-CLAVIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,923, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed July 12, 1902. Serial No. 115,266. (No model-i To Ml whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMOS C. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Practice-Olaviers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to practice-claviers; and it has for its object toprovide an improved practice-clavier action which shall be superior in point of simplicity, convenience, and inexpensiveness in construction and assembling and arrangement of parts, as well as in point of general efficiency, durability, and responsiveness in use.

The invention specifically constitutes an improvement upon the subj cot-matter of prior Letters Patent issued to me February 12,1901, and bearing 1T0. 668,003.

The main features of improvement com prised in the present inventionwith respect to said prior invention consist in inexpensiveness and simplicity of construction, the results obtained in the present case being in general as satisfactory from a standpoint of technique.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through the casing of my improved practice-clavier, the action being shown in full lines and the view being taken upon the line X X, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the appended arrow. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the con struction shown in Fig. 1, the top part of the casing being partially broken away to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing only the adjusting means for the sound-producing elements of the action. Fig. at is an enlarged detail side elevation of an improved soundaroducin elementa articular feature of the present invention.

Correspondin g parts in all the views are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the draw ings, my improved practice-clavier action is preferably housed within a box-like casing embodying a bottom member 1, side members 2 and 3, respectively, a rear member a, and a top member 5. The casing is open at the front to expose the keyboard 6, which is arranged forwardly of the name-board '7.

\Vithin the casing are arranged the keys 8, the hammer elements 9, the primary and secondary sound-producing elements 10 and 11,

respectively, ad justing means 12 for the primarysound-producing element 10, adjusting means 13 for the secondary sound-producing element 11, and touch-regulating means 14: for the keys 8. 9 is provided for each of the keys 8, being preferably arranged rearwardly of and in longitudinal alinement' with the same, each of the hammer elements being provided with a primarv striker device 15 for the primary sound-producing element 10 and with a secondary device 16 for the secondary soundp'roducing element 11.

The hammer elements 9 are each pivoted,

as at 17, at a point intermediate of its ends and intermediate of its respective striker devices 15 and 16, said hammer elements being mounted in a transverse series corresponding with a similar transversely serial arrangement of the keys 8, said'hammer elements being supported on a hammer-rail 18, secured to the bottom member 1 of the casing. Each of the hammer elements 0 embodies an adjustable stop device 20, which is arranged to rest upon the hammer-rail when the hammer 8o element is in normal or inactive position, as illustrated in the drawings.

The primary and secondary sound-produc ing elements 10 and 11 are both arranged above the hammer elements 9, extending transversely above the same within the easing, and through the medium of the primary and secondary adjusting means 12 and 13 may respectively be adjusted into and out of the paths of play of the primary and second- 0 ary striker devices 15 and 16.

The touch-regul atin means 14 are arranged above the keys 8, extending transversely of the same within the casing, and embody a plurality of tensional devices 21, arranged to bear, respectively, upon the keys 8 at the rearward ends of the same.

The keys are mounted upon a suitable base 22, arranged upon the bottom member 1 of the casing by means of the customary balance- I00 pins 23 and are provided with the usual guidepins 24E and suitable cushions'25 and 26, respectively, arranged beneath the forward and rearward ends of the keys.

One of the hammer elements 60 of a spring-finger, is preferably provided for In the preferred form of construction each of the hammer elements 9 consists, primarily, of an elongated bar 27, which is pivotally supported upon the hammer-rail 18 between spaced cheeks 28. The adjustable stop de vice 20 is, together with the respective primary striker device 15, arranged forwardly of the respective spaced'checks 28. Each of the hammer elements 9 is provided at its for- Ward end with an adjustable contact or capstan screw 29, through the medium of which the respective key 8 actuatcs the respective hammer elements 9. The forward end of each hammer element 9 overlaps the rearward end of the respective key 8, said hammer element at its forward end being cut away at the under side of the respective bar 27, as at 30, and each key 8 is cut away at the upper side of its rearward end, as at 31. The adjustable contact or capstan screws 29 are thus operatively arranged between the cut-way overlapping end:portions of the hammer elements and the keys. lVhen the keys and hammer elements are in'normal and inactive positions; as illustrated in the drawings, the upper sir faces ef the same should extend substantially in flush alinement.

Tensional means 32, consisting, preferably,

each of the hammer elements 9, being connected with and supported by the hammerrail and bearing upon the rearward end portion of the respective hammer element. Said tensional means 32 normally maintains the respective hammer element in normal position with the adjustable stop device 20 in contact with the hammer-rail 18, as illustrated, also serving to return the respective hammer element to normal position after actuation of the latter by the respective key 8.

Each of the sound-producing elements 10 and 11 is pivoted at its ends between two brackets 33, which are mounted upon the bottom member 1 of the casing at either side of the same. Each of said brackets embodies two forwardly-projecting members or arms 34 and 35, respectively, with which the soundproducing elements 10 and 11 are respectively connected, the member or arm 34 being arranged forwardly of the member or arm 35.

Each of the so und-prod ucing elements may be of any suitable construction; but in longcontinued experience I have found that a soundproducing element constructed of a plurality of layers of material of varying quality is superior in point of clearness of the click or toneless sound produced as well as responsiveness of action in connection with the striker device.

In the preferred form of construction of the sound-producing element I have provided a body member 36 of wood and a contact member or portion 37, consisting of an outer layer 38 of hard fiber and an intermediate layer 39 of felt, which last-mentioned layer is interposed between the hard-fiber layer and the wood. These several parts or layers of the sound producing element are closely associated and held together, preferably adhesively, forming a firm and complete unit. In the use of the sound-producing element constructed as described, the outer layer of hard fiber, upon receiving a blow or impact of the striker device, emits a clear, q uiek,sharp,and distinctlyaudible click or toneless sound, which click or sound is tempered or modified with respect to its harshness by means of the layer or backing of yielding felt.

The'body member or portion 36 of Wood is set into vibration through the transmission 3 of energy by the felt layer 39, and the final audible click or toneless sound produced by the entirety is'of perfect quality from a standpoint instruction, practice, and technique. TThe slight resilience of the hard fiber 38, combined with the slightly-yieldin g quality of the felt layer 39, cause the striker device to element after the operative coengagement of the same.

Each of the means 12 and 13 for adjusting .Ethe primary and secondary sound-producing elements 10 and 11 may consist of'a horizontal adjusting-bar 40, arranged above the bottom member 1 of the casin g, a pivoted thumb-lever 41, supported by a bracket 42,.arranged at one side of the keyboard 6, and a rigid link 43, pivotally connected, as at 44, with the rearward end of the adj usting-bar and also pivotally connected, as at 45, with the respective sound-producing element at the topand at one end of the same forwardly of the point of pivotal support of the sound-producing element, being arranged forwardly of the respective arms 34 or of said brackets 33. Combined with each of the ad justing-bars 40 is a block 40, arranged upon the bottom member 1 of the casing and arranged to coact with a notch 40, formed in the lower portion of the adj usting-bar 40, to cause the pivotal elevation of the latter in the reciprocation of the latter.

The bracket 42 is provided with two stop devices 46, which limit the play of the respective thumb -lever 41. when the respective sound-producing element is in either thoroughly elevated and inoperative or depressed and operative position. By throwing the up per free end -of the thumb -lever 41 rearwardly the respective soundproducing eleposition. The reverse movement of parts brings the respective soundproducing element into elevated or inoperative position. The adjusting means 12 and 13 are arranged at opposite sides of the keys.

The spring-fingers 21 of the touch-re ulatwhich is pivoted at its ends in connection with brackets 48, mounted upon the bottom member 1. of the casing, at the sides of the same.

The specific construction of the touch-regulating means 14 is preferably identical with Zquickly rebound from the sound-producing ment is brought into depressed or operative mg means 14 are carried by the touch-bar 47,

the construction disclosed in prior Letters Patent, No. 681,438, issued to me August 27, 190], and the specific constructions of the striker devices and 1G and of the adjustable stop device are preferably identical with the construction of the corresponding parts disclosed in prior Letters Patent, No. 668,003, above referred to.

The operation and advantages of my improvements in practice-claviers will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the disclosures in the prior Letters Patent herein referred to.

Each of the hammer elements 9 is oscillated by the depression of the respective key 8 at the keyboard 6 through the medium of the respective contact or capstan screw 29, which may be adjusted as desired for obtaining the required operative condition.

When the adjusting means 12 and 13 or either of the same are employed by bringing the sound-producing elements 10 and 11 or either of the same into operative or depressed position, the depression of the respective key S will cause the initial contact of the primary striker device 15 with the primary soundproducing element 10, and the release of the respective key 8 will permit the respective hammer element 9 to return to its former position and bring the respective secondary striker device into engagement with the secondary sound-producing element 11 under actuation of gravity (each hammer element 9 being pivotally suspended at a point slightly rearward of its center of gravity) and under the actuation of the respective tensional means By means of the touch-regulating means 14 the operative depression of the keys 8 may be varyingly tensionally opposed. The arrangement of the keys and the hammer elements in longitudinal alinement and in substantially the same plane permits of the compact arrangement of parts in a casing of relatively slight altitude.

The operation and use of the improved practice-clavier from a technical standpoint will be readily understood from the disclosures in the prior Letters Patent herein referred to.

The entire instrument is relatively simple in construction, positive and responsive in operation, easy to repair, and not likely to get out of order under long-continued use.

The particular construction of the improved sound-producing elements is productive of superiority from a standpoint of technical requirement as well as of durability and general efficiency.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction, relative arrangement, and association of parts as herein described, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting my improvements to varying conditions of use without departing from the spirit of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an improved clavier, a hammer element, and a key arranged in alinement therewith and in end-to-end relation thereto.

2. In an improvedclavier, a hammer element, and a key for operating said hammer element; said hammer element and said key being arranged in alinement and in overlapping end-to-end relation.

3. In an improved clavier, a hammer element, and a key for operating said hammer element; said hammer element and said key being arranged in longitudinal alinement and in overlapping end-to-end relation; and an adjustable contact device, disposed between the overlapping ends of said hammerelement and said key.

4. In an improved clavier, a hammer element eccentrically pivotally supported and provided at one side of its point of pivotal sup port with a striker device and at the other side of its point of pivotal support with a striker device and with an adjustable stop device; and sound-producing elements arranged to be respectively engaged by said striker devices.

5. In an improved clavier, a pivoted tensionally-actuated hammer element supported at a point intermediate of its ends and provided at either side of its point of pivotal support with striker devices, and adjustable sound-producing elements arranged to be engaged respectively by said striker devices.

6. In an improved clavier, apivotally-supported sound-producing element; and means for adjusting the same comprising a reciprocating adj usting-bar, a link pivotally connected with said bar at one end and pivotally connected with said sound-producing element at the other end at the top of the latter and at a point forward of the point of pivotal support of the latter, a thumb-lever pivotally connected with said adj listing-bar, and means for limiting the oscillation of said thumb-lever in both directions.

7. In an improved clavier, a sound-producing element, comprising a body portion, and

a contact portion connected with the body portion and consisting of a plurality of layers closely associated with said body portion; one of said layers of said contact portion consisting of hard resilient material and the other of said layers consisting of soft yielding material and being directly connected with said body portion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

AMOS O. BERGMAN.

Witnesses:

A. M. VIRGIL, R. I. BLAKESLEE. 

